It’s here! Commitment Day!
Set your clocks, Hoops fans, because Mizzou’s longtime top 2022 target, No. 53 nationally ranked (per 247 Sports) Aidan Shaw, will make his college announcement at 10:30am CST today— on his birthday!
9/17 bday Commitment coming soon ⏳10:30 CT/ 11:30ET on CBS live! @CBSSportsHQ
— Aidan Shaw (@Aidan_Shaw24) September 16, 2021
Blah blah blah, I know — I KNOWWWWW — he’s not THE savior of Mizzou Hoops. But he’d be an important recruiting win and we would all very much like to have him on our team. Instead of me rehashing what has been said about him ad nauseam, I’ll just share what our resident Hoops Guru, Sam Snelling, has written.
From Sam’s piece that I already referenced this week (in case you didn’t look at it):
No player has quite been on the board any longer than Blue Valley High School product Aidan Shaw. Shaw has long been a projected high major wing with serious upside and NBA potential. He’s long and athletic and a menace defensively with an offensive skillset which has slowly rounded into shape. And since he’s been able to be ranked, Shaw has been a top 100 level player.
He continued.
If you’ve read my thoughts long enough you’ll know that I never refer to any player as a “must have” or “must get” because there is no such thing. If you miss on one guy, it’s never going to make or break a program.
But there is a such thing as accumulation. The losses add up. You don’t need to land ALL your top guys but you do need to land SOME of them.
From that standpoint, Aidan Shaw is important for Missouri. Without him, the program will survive, and probably win a similar amount of games in the next few years... mostly because Cuonzo Martin has proven himself to be a competent head coach. But if you’re talking about what ‘Zo wants the program to be, and what fans want the program to be, the recruiting wins need to start happening and Shaw could be the opening salvo for what could be a step forward.
As Matt and others have mentioned on the twitter recently, it appears to be down to Mizzou and kansas (who might have recruited over him), as well Oklahoma State, who has gone silent. However, if you are to believe the analysts, things are certainly trending in the right direction for a recruiting win for Zo...
Noteworthy pic.twitter.com/j89KWMAQJu
— Power Mizzou (@PowerMizzoucom) September 16, 2021
Should he commit (or conversely, if he doesn’t), we’ll have plenty of writings about it here on our lovely site.
Onto the Links!
Good luck to our Football Tigers this weekend, and here’s some reminders in case you’re going to the game:
️ T H I N G S
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) September 15, 2021
https://t.co/zb7PXQFv9i
NewZou to 83200
1-800-CAT-PAWS#MIZ pic.twitter.com/pXCxB41Kmu
Yesterday at Rock M
- Aaron had a new edition of Three and Out to get us thinking about how to beat the Redhawks.
- In a new BTBS pod, the guys chat about Kentucky, Butts, and Luther Burden.
- Nate really hates this, but it appears that Costume Reveal Day has been moved to Thursdays this season. Nate begrudgingly wrote about it.
- COMING UP: We’ll have a brand new Pregamin featuring me, Josh, & Ryan Faller, a Bottoms Up post for the drinkers out there, and a post on whatever happens with Mr. Shaw this morning.
More Links:
Football
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Max Baker wrote about the speedy and versatile JC Carlies, who has made quite an impact on Mizzou’s shaky defense, while Matter conducted his weekly chat, which subscribers can read in full.
- Columbia Tribune (possibly only for subscribers?): Chris Kwiecinksi wrote about Mizzou football’s week-long message of accountability takes center stage against SEMO., while Eric Blum diagnosed Mizzou’s opponent tomorrow, the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks.
- The KC Star’s Lila Bromberg wrote about the Tigers’ efforts to fix a struggling defense.
- The Columbia Missourian’s Emily Leiker wrote Drinkwitz is looking for Bazelak to take more control amid improvements.
- Saturday Down South’s Stacey Mickles asked if Tyler Badie is even better than we thought. (Yes. The answer is YES)
- According to Dave Matter, this refers to non-garbage time stats, and since Missouri has kept their games close...
The SEC offenses with the best Rushing Success Rate in "standard time" entering Week3
— SEC StatCat (@SEC_StatCat) September 16, 2021
1. Missouri
2. Ole Miss
3. Florida
4. Auburn
5. TAMU
6. Alabama
7. Arkansas
8. Tennessee
9. Kentucky
10. South Carolina
11. Miss State
11. Georgia
13. Vanderbilt
14. LSU pic.twitter.com/yEioF9ivJH
- Okay, this is kinda funny....
If I didn't know anything about College Football, here is what I’d guess each SEC Coach did for a living: pic.twitter.com/LAEakOZfCA
— KD ➐ (@notkdk3) September 15, 2021
Football Crootin’ News
- Luther Burden will release his Top 3 at approximately 6pm, per his IG. Missouri is expected to make the list, of course.
- If you’re a PowerMizzou subscriber, Sean Williams checked in on 3-star 2023 Iowa LB Asa Newsom.
Hoops
- Big congrats to Hayley Frank and Javon Pickett, Mizzou’s selections for the SEC Basketball Leadership Council! The goal of the council is for student-athletes to “serve as a conduit of communication from their teams to the conference on issues related to student-athlete experience, student-athlete wellness, and to provide feedback on proposed rules governing the SEC and NCAA.” You can read more about it at MUTigers.com.
Proud to have @JavonPickett and @hayfrank42 for representing @MizzouAthletics this year at the SEC Basketball Leadership Council!
— Mizzou Athletics (@MizzouAthletics) September 16, 2021
https://t.co/ABoKUd9djA#MIZ pic.twitter.com/z6n8KGWLD2
- According to College Hoops Insider bot, Jon Rothstein, here’s a bit of coaching news:
Sources: The NCAA has approved that starting on 9/20, two non-coaching staff members in men's and women's basketball can engage in on-court practice activity during the 21-22 season.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 16, 2021
No more than four coaches and non-coaching staff members combined, may give instruction.
- Come to a MSHSAA coaches clinic, stay for open practice. And have some gratitude for the position you’re in. Sounds cool to me!
Through the lens
— Mizzou Basketball (@MizzouWBB) September 16, 2021
Open Practice at the MSHSAA Coaches Clinic. #OurTownOurTeam pic.twitter.com/WARMmOYKrc
Showing pays off#OurTownOurTeam pic.twitter.com/cZS6ECtnRU
— Mizzou Basketball (@MizzouWBB) September 15, 2021
- Loving this ball movement from Boogie. Is it November 9 yet? Just checking…
On another level pic.twitter.com/7zEH9X8uvw
— Mizzou Hoops (@MizzouHoops) September 16, 2021
Other Mizzou Sports
- Get to the newcomers of Mizzou’s best sport, SOFTBALL. Cannot wait to catch some games and write about ‘em! Fall Ball is right around the corner!
Meet the newcomers!#OwnIt pic.twitter.com/2Rayd8CSMK
— Mizzou Softball (@MizzouSoftball) September 15, 2021
- Soccer opened up SEC play on Thursday evening, facing off against South Carolina at home. In the 87th minute, the Gamecocks scored, winning 2-1, per the Missourian’s Anthony Kristensen. You can also read a recap at MUTigers.com.
- Anthony Kristensen looked at the impromptu high school reunion of MU Soccer’s Skye Kingsley and SC’s Ryan Gareis.
- Volleyball wraps up its non-con schedule this weekend with a trip to the Redbird Classic in Normal, IL. According to MUTigers.com, the Tigers will play matches today against Illinois (5-3) and North Texas (6-3) at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively, followed by a match against Illinois State (3-6) on Saturday at 2 p.m. Saturday’s match against the Redbirds will stream on ESPN+. Live stats will be available on the site throughout the weekend.
Last non-conference weekend of the year #MIZ pic.twitter.com/1aUPgmPmxu
— Mizzou Volleyball (@MizzouVB) September 16, 2021
- The Maneater’s Izabelle Cool previewed Tennis’ upcoming season, and how their new additions could push the Tigers toward eligibility at the conference and national level.
- Also, this is AWESOME news. Best of luck, ladies!
Bronte Murgett, Marta Oliveira and Ellie Wright make history as the first Tigers to be awarded main draw spots in this weekend’s Milwaukee Classic— an invite only ITA tournament. Gabriela Martinez joins the crew as part of the alternate list as well. #MIZ #WeHaveLanded
— Mizzou Tennis (@MizzouTennis) September 16, 2021
- Back in the weight room for Mizzou Baseball
The foundation of a true player development plan starts here…#C2E @MizzouBaseball pic.twitter.com/eQYwYc42FA
— Mitch Plassmeyer (@Mitch_Plazz40) September 16, 2021
Mizzou in the Pros
- Hot damn, Tanner Houck. That is FILTHY.
Filth #C2E ⚾️ https://t.co/GUFidUKGqz
— Mizzou Baseball (@MizzouBaseball) September 16, 2021
- LOVE to hear it, Nicky B! More about Nick— the KC Star’s Blair Kerkhoff said after being thrown into NFL action, KC Chiefs (and former Mizzou) linebacker Nick Bolton has made plays.
.@_nickbolton2 continues to feel the love from @MizzouFootball following his 4 tackle performance in his @Chiefs debut, saying he got plenty of encouraging messages from his Tiger teammates & coaches@CoachDrinkwitz @CoachDjSmith @martezmanuel13
— Ben Arnet (@BenArnetKOMU) September 15, 2021
WATCH⤵️ pic.twitter.com/pu1PqJKLrf
- And some well-deserved praise for Mr Bolton here:
It’s early, but they might have next.
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) September 16, 2021
Nick Bolton, LB, KC
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, CIN
Mac Jones, QB, NE
Elijah Mitchell, RB, SF
DeVonta Smith, WR, PH pic.twitter.com/jynulKhmRQ
- This is cool as hell. I LOVE that his singlet from his bronze medal match is in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
.@MATrix_8692 was Missouri and Central Region winner of our Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 2013
— NWHOF (@NWHOF) September 16, 2021
We display his singlet and scoresheet from 2016 Olympics
READ more about J’den -> https://t.co/kJ1ElWhonE#SportForAll #AnyBODYCanWrestle #GirlsWrestle #GrowTheSport https://t.co/xqcxr2hFuw
- Interesting stats here. For those keeping track, the centers are Mitch Morse (Bills), Justin Britt (Texans), Connor McGovern (Jets) & Trystan Colon-Castillo (Ravens), while the QBs are Chase Daniel (Chargers), Blaine Gabbert (Bucs) & Drew Lock (Broncos).
The QB factories for today's NFL: Oklahoma, Missouri and North Dakota State pic.twitter.com/InAKU59WU6
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 16, 2021
- The full podcast/You Tube will be up today, but Thursday brought a teaser of Old Man & the Three’s podcast with Michael Porter, Jr. Super glad the back stuff is behind him (crosses fingers) and he’ll have a wonderful upcoming season.
here’s MPJ on his unique draft night experience. full ep live tomorrow Am! @jj_redick @talter pic.twitter.com/APY4Ipoqqu
— TheOldMan&TheThree (@OldManAndThree) September 16, 2021
- Lotta debate on the twitter about Bleacher Report’s choices here (Ayton below MPJ, really?) but it does go to show that Mike was ultimately drafted wayyyyyyy too low, though I see the concern (as mentioned in the link above).
Bleacher Report’s 2018 re-draft:
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) September 15, 2021
1. Luka
2. Trae
3. MPJ
4. Ayton
5. SGA
6. Mikal Bridges
7. Jaren Jackson Jr.
8. Robert Williams
9. Mitchell Robinson
10. Collin Sexton
11. Donte DiVincenzo
12. Duncan Robinson
13. Miles Bridges
14. Wendell Carter Jr
————————————————————————————————————————————————
If you’re looking to sign up for ESPN+, Rock M Nation now has an affiliate link: click Here for ESPN+ Now!
If you’re looking to sign up for a new streaming service, you can try FuboTV: click HERE for FuboTV access — FuboTV now has ESPN, CBS, FS1 and more sports channels.
(** RockMNation has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though RockMNation may earncommissions for products purchased via affiliate links.**)